England mark Harry Kane's night with a win, but defense remains a concern

LONDON -- Harry Kane scored a 64th-minute penalty to give England a 2-1 win over Croatia on the night he became his country's all-time record appearance-maker.

The 33-year-old marked his 126th cap -- surpassing Peter Shilton's longstanding record -- with the decisive contribution after Petar Sucic's 59th-minute finish had canceled out Morgan Rogers' first-half opener.

Kane's emphatic conversion from the spot after Ivan Smolcic was adjudged to have pulled Jarell Quansah's shirt upon VAR review took his tally to a record-extending 92 England goals. The victory sealed England's place in the Nations League quarterfinals ahead of Sunday's trip to Spain, which will decide who tops League A Group 3.

England coach Thomas Tuchel handed starts to Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis Hall and Dan Burn, but Croatia were stronger in the opening stages before Rogers' 24th-minute goal. England had enough quality to respond to Sucic's equalizer to edge a tight game on a night that will be remembered for Kane's latest milestone achievement. -- James Olley

Kane marks record night with a goal

Thursday was always going to be about Kane. The pre-match presentations were threefold: one from Shilton, whose appearance record he surpassed; one from former Tottenham teammate Luka Modric, who presented a historic football as a gift from Croatia; and a framed shirt from Prince William, FA president.

It was only fitting, then, that his goal swung this game in England's favor, although for a while it looked like it would be a different kind of evening. Kane spent much of the first half dropping deep to help build attacks and his first meaningful chance came six minutes after halftime when Josip Stanisic blocked his close-range effort.

Kane's moment came after the VAR intervention for Smolcic's shirt-pull. His penalty was typically emphatic. Former England boss Gareth Southgate spoke earlier this week about how Kane reevaluated his penalty-taking after a vital miss as England were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

It is yet another sign of Kane's relentless desire to improve that has taken him to 92 international goals. The 100-goal mark is his next milestone, and he'll likely reach it sooner rather than later. -- Olley

England's unfamiliar defense exposed

England's back four had never started a match together, and at times it showed. Croatia's goal, for example, will make grim viewing for England's defense when they watch it back.

For that goal, England's defense was easily unpicked by a corner. Josko Gvardiol managed to get something on it, leaving Quansah with a choice between heading the ball clear or guiding it back to Pickford. He was caught in two minds, and his poorly judged, underpowered header toward Pickford left England shortchanged. It inadvertently teed up the unmarked Sucic, who could volley home from close range with Alexander-Arnold caught flat-footed. The closest player to challenging Sucic as he sliced home was Kane.

There were other moments throughout the evening when England looked a little shaky at the back, were put under pressure when playing out and forced into conceding corners. In the final throes of the match, Ben White's poor header back put England under threat, and it took some robust body-on-the-line defending from Burn to clear England's lines. But amid the uncertainty, Lewis Hall did well on the left.

The lack of familiarity is understandable given England's depleted stocks at center back with both Ezri Konsa and Marc Guéhi sidelined. But as they prepare to face Spain in Madrid, Tuchel will be hopeful Konsa is back fit. If he is, you can expect he would slot straight back into the side. England looked vulnerable from set pieces, and that's something they'll have to shore up ahead of Sunday. -- Tom Hamilton

Rogers steps up in Saka's absence

It looked like Tuchel had settled on his first-choice front four after that trouncing of Croatia in Rijeka, with Bukayo Saka pipping Morgan Rogers on the right. But Saka's leg injury opened the door for a new contender on the right flank, and Tuchel went with the same front four that started against Argentina in the World Cup back in July, with Anthony Gordon and Rogers on the wings and Jude Bellingham playing off Kane.

Saka's form has been patchy at Arsenal this season, carrying on from a World Cup where we saw glimpses of his undoubted quality but also a player who's still trying to find his ruthless best. Rogers is comfortable across all three positions behind the striker in that front three, and he has also played as the out-and-out striker for Chelsea this term, though not to great success. Yet his wonderful versatility makes him a valuable member of the interchangeable attack that Tuchel favors.

Throughout the Croatia match you saw Bellingham drifting to the right, Rogers moving inside, and the two switching back again. For the first England goal, Kane's diagonal ball opened Croatia up (England needed to play more of these types of passes) and found Bellingham at the far post. His cushioned pass found Rogers who toe poked the ball home.

The positional shifting was effortless and has given Tuchel food for thought on what his first-choice attacking lineup will be if and when he has all of his players fit at the same time. -- Hamilton

White booed again by England fans

Tuchel's pre-match request was ignored by a considerable number of fans in here.

White's relationship with England is complicated. He left the 2022 World Cup in Qatar early with what the FA described at the time as "personal reasons." Sources told ESPN that White had a disagreement with the England coaching staff that led in part to his exit alongside other factors, although that is something then boss Southgate subsequently denied.

White declared himself unavailable for England thereafter until Tuchel brought him back into the fold in March. The Arsenal defender was booed when coming on as a substitute then, leading Tuchel to declare at last week's squad announcement that "he deserves to open a new chapter" and fans questioning his commitment should be considered a "closed book."

Many supporters clearly feel differently. White was jeered once again when coming on after 78 minutes.

On Monday, he gave a radio interview in which he claimed England fans would feel differently if they knew the full story, hinting perhaps at personal reasons not in the public domain. This was evidence to suggest he might need to consider disclosing more information if that new chapter for England is indeed to begin. -- Olley